The M-65 field jacket was first introduced in the late 1960s as an upgrade to the M-51 and M-43 field jackets that had been used in the Korean and Second World War by the Army. The improvements two shoulder epaulets, extra pockets for carrying equipment, cargo, and accessories, and the brass zipper which replaced the button up style beforehand – allowing soldiers to quickly and effortlessly close and open their jackets for easy access. The M-65 field jacket also had Velcro on both cuffs in case the soldier wanted to roll up his sleeves.
The field coat was used a lot in the Vietnam War and there the days were warm but the nights were much colder. Alpha was one of the first to produce the M-65 in 1966 and we went on to produce them for the government through 1990. Alpha made the first M-65 for the commercial market in the 1970s and by the 1990s they were available in a variety of colors. Today we still make the M-65 as well as modern variations of the vintage field coat from the war days.